Label cutting and folding mechanism



#55425 w 25? EX CROSS REFERENCE EXAMlNE FI P8212 XR 1 ,9919 423 Fgb. 19, 1935. c. w. SHAVER 1,991,423

LABEL cu-n'ius AND FOLDING macmmlsu Filed Feb. 15, 1934 a Sheets-Sheet 1 11V VEN TOR 6m zw/mmr- 1 W M A TTORNE 1'8 25 0 201 CROSS REFERENCE EXAMINE':

Feb. 19, 1935. I c. WPSHAVER 1,991,423

' LABEL cu'r'r'me mm powme uscmlsu Filed Feb..15 1954 a sheets-sheet 2 [1V VEN TOR 215 1 (055 REFERENCE Feb. 19, 1935. c. w. SHAVER 1,991,423

LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING. IBCHANISI Filed Feb. 15, 1934 3 ShGQtS-Sheet 3 11v VENTOR g 1 Car/ M Sha er A TTORNEYJ.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,991,423 LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING LIECHANISM Carl w. Shaver, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to The Rose Patch 8: Label Company, Grand Bapids, Mich.

- Application February 15, 1934, Serial No. 711,395

13 Claims. (Cl. 164-42) 5 No. 647,534Qflled December 16, 1932, by Arthur Rosenthal.

The machine is one for cutting and folding cloth labels or the like and balances the insignia on the label by means of a photo-electric cell and a pull back means which operates to pull a label strip back from a cutter and position it so that feeding means which feed the strips a predetermined distance will properly center the insignia of the label for cutting this type of machine it is possible to eliminate considerable labor. In the machines formerly used it was necessary to have an operator at each machine to watch for defective labels. With the use of the photo-electric cell, one operator can take care of several machines and by employing my invention, the machines are so organized that if a label strip is defective or if the operation is interfered with in some way, the machine is stopped until the operator of the several machines can get to the machine and can tend the machine and start it on its operation.

My invention has for its objects:

First, to produce an electric control means to stop the machine if for any reason the photoelit'iric cell has failed to operate to balance the la Second, to provide means for stopping the machine if any of the circuits involved in the use of the photo-electric cell are interrupted.

Third,.to provide an" improved photo-electric cell and labelbedlin, which the passage of the label strip throughthe machine cleans the light used to illuminate and make operative the photoelectric cell.- I

Fourth, to provide an improved pull back means that effectually pulls the label strip back from the cutter and releases it in desired position.

Fifth, to provide a suitable meter for the machine to stop it when a predetermined number of labels has been cut and folded by the machine;

Further objects and advantages pertaining to details of construction and operation will deflnitely appear from the description to follow: A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a label cutting and folding machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation partly in section showing the pull back, the photo-electric cell and the switches.

and folding. In

label could be used 'mechanism 6.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the relation of the various elements of my mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the meter for shutting off the mechanism.

The parts will be The cutting and folding machine is identical tion Serial No. 647,534, and consists of a drive shaft 1, a pair of gripping jaws 2 which reciprocate to feed a label strip 3 to a cutting knife 4, and two label folders 5. The balancing of the label is effected by retracting the label strip 3 from the cutter 4 by means of a pull back 6 which pulls the strip past a photo-electric cell 7 so that the label strip is exposed to the photoelectric cell to release the pull back mechanism to leave the label strip in position to be again gripped by the feed jaws 2 and pulled to the cutter and folders. The photo-electric cell is adjustable by means of a threaded rod having a knurled head 8.

In operation the pull back 6 pulls the label strip slowly from the cutter at a rate considerably less than the rate of the forward feed, and takes a longer time to complete the pull back. This assures effective operation of the photo-electric cell,- which would not operate as successfully on and eliminates the nethe inertia of the maeither printed or presses in insignia. complished by pulling back the strip until a portion of the insignia passes before the photoelectric cell or special marks 9 can be printed or woveninthestrlpoflabelstobeusedforthe balancing. I have shown the apparatus here arrangedtooperateonsuchaspecialmarklland the apparatus is so adjusted that the exposure of the mark 9 to the photo-electric cell 7 controls thepullbackofthelabelstrfptoleave itinpositionfor the next forward feed. It will be understood that a portion of the insignia 109 of the instead of this mark and I do not wish tobe limited to the use of a. special mark to be used for balancing the label.

After a label has been cut from the end of the strip, the label strip is gr pped by the pull back This consists of a pivoted frame 10 pivoted on the rod 11 for reciprocation beidentified by their numerals 5 of reference which are the same in all the views.

tween the positions shown in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The frame is provided with an arm 12 and a cam follower 13 which engages a cam 14 mounted on the drive shaft 1 of the machine. The gripping mechanism consists of a stationary member 15 comprising a U-shaped metallic piece, a movable armature 16 apertured to slide On the arms of said U-shaped piece 15, coil springs 17 surrounding said arms to urge the armature 16 against the member 15 to normally clamp the label strip 3 and a solenoid 18 designed to pull the armature 16 away from the member 15 to release the grip on said label strip. The cam 14 is timed with relation to the cutter and folders to cause the pull back means to pull the label strip back from the knife while the severed label is being folded. The pull is a short distance relative to the forward feeding motion of the strip and the cam is timed to occupy a relatively longer time than is occupied in the feeding motion. The pull back of the strip causes the variations in color of the label to operate the photo-electric cell which energizes the solenoid 18 by means of a circuit to be later explained to release the label strip which is held in position by a weight 19.

In practice several machines are run from a counter shaft which is connected by a suitable belt to the pulley 20 which is journaled free on the shaft 1. A clutch consisting of a slidable member 21 keyed on the shaft 1 controls the driving of the machine. A shaft 22 with a hand lever 23 permits manual control of the clutch. A lever 24 fixed to shaft 22 and connected by link 25 to the armature 26 of a solenoid 27 provides an automatic release for the clutch to stop the machine automatically, as will be later explained.

Beneath the photo-electric cell 7 is a bed plate 28 over which the label strip passes. The bed plate is apertured at 29 and a light bulb 30 is positioned to shine through the aperture to illuminate the cell through the label strip and render the photo-electric cell operative. The aperture of the bed plate is counter-sunk as at 31 so that the light bulb may be extended into the aperture 29 and projected slightly above the surface of the bed plate 28. By this arrangement the label strip passing over the light bulb has a continual wiping action thereon and keeps the bulb free from collected lint or other dirt that might dim it and interfere with the operation of the device. The light bulb is an ordinary small bulb of the type used in automobile tail lights or the like, and is energized by a circuit to be described later.

In operation of the machine it is necessary that the photo-electric cell be rendered inoperative on the forward or feeding movement of the label strip. I accomplish this by controlling the circuit of the light 30, turning of! the light 30 as the label strip is advanced and turning the light on during the pull back motion. In this way there is no danger of having the photo-electric cell cool off to possibly interfere with its operation, as might possibly be the case if the circuit of the photo-electric cell were broken. It also eliminates a chattering that would result if the photo-electric cell were allowed to operate while breaking the circuit to energize the solenoid 18.

To control the lightlng of the lamp, I provide a switch 32 which is normally closed, but which is opened by means of a plunger 33 normally held retracted by a coiled spring 34 which engages a cam35onthe shaft 1. Thiscamissuchthatthe light is lighted at the completion of the cutting and at the start of the pull back of the label strip and is turned off at the completion of the pull back and at the start of the forward feeding movement of the label strip. To light the light, I provide a transformer 36 which is connected to the ordinary source of power which in this case may be an ordinary electric light plug outlet and which is indicated at 3'1. In series with the light, I provide a relay 38 which has a switch 39 ordinarily closed, but which is held open when the light circuit is energized. The photo-electric cell 7 is of the ordinary commercial type and will not be described in detail, it being considered suflicient merely to indicate the apparatus, including the photo-electric relay, conventionally at 40. The circuit is supplied for the apparatus from the outlet 37 and is controlled by a switch 140 (see Fig. 3). The photo-electric cell controls the circuit which energizes the solenoid 18. In series with the solenoid 18 is a relay 41 having a switch 42 which is normally held closed, but which is opened by the flow of current through the relay 41 to the solenoid 18. The switches 39 and 42 of the relays 38 and 41 respectively are in series with a switch 43 which is normally closed but which is opened by a plunger 44 which, in this instance, is a sleeve surrounding the plunger 33 which operates the switch 32. The plunger 44 is normally held retracted by a spring 45 and is actuated by a cam 46 which holds the switch 43 open throughout the operation of the device, except that the switch 43 is normally closed as the pull back mechanism reaches the end of its reciprocation. The switch is closed when the light 30 should be on and when the passage of the label strip by the photo-electric cell should have energized the circuit of the solenoid 18. As before stated, the switches 39 and 42 are in parallel, but both are in series with the switch 43 and with a relay 4'? which has a switch 48 designed to be closed by the energizing of the solenoid 49 of the relay 4"! to close the circuit of the solenoid 27 to operate the clutch throw-out.

It will be readily understood that if the light 30 has failed to light for some reason or other and its circuit is not energized, the switch 39 will be closed, or if the photo-electric cell has failed to energize the circuit of the solenoid 18 either because of some failure of connection or because of a faulty label which does not present a mark or legend to operate the photo-electric cell, the switch 42 will be closed because the solenoid of the relay 41 will not be energized.

If either switch 39 or 42 is closed when the pull back reaches its back position and the switch 43 is momentarily closed, the relay 49 will be energized to operate the solenoid 27 to release the clutch. 'The solenoid 27 is connected to the outside source of power as can be seen from the diagram of Fig. 3.

When the operator has corrected whatever difllculty has caused the stopping of the machin. the switch 48 of the relay 47 can be opened and the clutch thrown in by means of the hand lever 23.

I have provided a simple re-set relay to accomplish this purpose which consists of a solenoid 50 connected'directly to the outside source of power 37, having a push button 51 to energize the circuit so that the solenoid 50 may, on/closing of the switch of push button 51, open the switch 48 to re-set the mechanism. At 52 I illustrate a switch controlling the entire circuit.

In addition to the safety device, I provide a meter 53 for counting the labels cut and folded. This meter consists of disks 54 (see Fig. 4) arranged to be actuated by the machine in a manner well known to those shlled in the art. To stop the machine after a predetermined number of operations, I provide a switch in connection with the meter consisting of a contact 55 closing a circuit 56, 57 to the relay 4'1 so that when the device has performed a predetermined number of operations the solenoid 4'7 is energized to close its switch 48 to operate the clutch throw-out mechanism.

It will be understood that although I have described my mechanism in connection with a label cutting and folding machine, it may be also used in connection with other devices of a similar character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In 'an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, a. clutch between the driving means and said machine, and a sole- .noid operated clutch release, pull back means for a label strip, a cam shaft and a cm to operate said pull back, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a light on the opposite side of the label strip from the photoelectric cell, a solenoid operated release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a switch controlling said light, a cam on said shaft controlling said switch to close it throughout the pull back movement, whereby the photoelectric cell is illuminated during the pull back to render it operative, a first relay controlled by the circuit of the solenoid pull back release, a second relay controlled by the circuit of the light and having its switch in parallel with the switch of said first relay, said relay switches being held open when their respective control circuits are energized, a switch in series with said relay switches to form a circuit controlling the solenoid of said clutch release, a cam on said shaft to close said switch momentarily at the end of the .pull back movement, whereby if the light circuit or the solenoid pull-back release circuit is not energized, the circuit of the clutch release mechanism is closed to throw out the clutch.

2. In an apparatus of" the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, a clutch between the driving means and said machine and a solenoid operated clutch release. pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a light on the opposite side of the label strip from the photoelectric cell, a solenoid operated release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a switch to light said light throughout the pull back movement, whereby the photo-electric cell is illuminated during the pull back to render it operative, a first relay controlled by the circuit of the solenoid pull back release, a' second relay controlled by the circuit of the light and having its switch in parallel with the switch of said first relay, said relay switches being held open when their respective control circuits are energized, i switch in series with said relay switches to form .a circuit controlling the solenoid of said clutch releasef timed to be closed momentarily atthe end of the pull back movement, whereby if the light circuit or the solenoid pull back release circuit is not energized, the circuit of the'clutch release mechanismlis closed to throw out the clutch.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a cutting and folding machine,

driving means for said machine, a clutch between the driving means and said machine, and

a solenoid operated clutch release, pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a solenoid operated release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a relay controlled by the circuit of the solenoid pull back release, having its switch held open when its control circuit is energized, a switch in series with said relay switch to form a circuit controlling the solenoid of said clutch release, timed to be closed momentarily at the end of the pull back movement, whereby if the solenoid pull back release circuit is not energized the circuit of the clutch release mechanism is closed to throw out the clutch.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, a clutch between the driving means and said machine, and a solenoid operated clutch release, a pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a light on the opposite side of the label strip from the photo-electric cell, a release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a switch to light said light throughout the pull back movement, whereby the photo-electric cell is illuminated during the pull back to render it operative, a relay controlled by the circuit of the light and having its switch held open when its control circuit is energlzed, a switch in series with said relay switch to form a circuit controlling the solenoid of said clutch release timed to be closed momentarily at the end of the pull back movement, whereby if the light circuit is not energized, the circuit of the clutch release mechanism is closed to throw out the clutch.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, shut off means for said machine, pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a light on the opposite .side of the label strip from the photo-electric cell, a solenoid operated release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a switch to light said light throughout the pull back movement, whereby the photo-electric cellis illuminated during the pull back to render it operative, a first relay controlled by the circuit of the solenoid pull back release, a second relay controlled by the circuit of the light and having its switch in parallel with the switch of said first relay, said relay switches being held open when their respective control circuits are energized, a

switch in series with said relay switches to form a circuit controlling the shut off meanatimed to be closed momentarily at the end of the pull back movement, whereby if the light circuit or the solenoid pull back release circuit is not energized, the shut 01! means stop the machine.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, shut of! means for said machine, pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a solenoid operatedrelease for said pull back controlled by said photo electric cell, a relay controlled by the circuit of the solenoid pull back release having its switch held open when its control circuit is-energized,

a switch in series with said relay switch to form a circuit controlling the shut off means, timed to be closed momentarily at the end of the pull release circuit is not energized,

back movement, whereby if the solenoid pull back the shut of! means stop the machine.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means for said machine, shut oi! means for said machine, pull back means for a label strip, a photo-electric cell positioned to be exposed to the label strip, a light on the opposite side of the label strip from the photo-electric cell, a release for said pull back controlled by said photo-electric cell, a switch to light said light throughout the pull back movement, whereby the photo-electric cell is illuminated during the pull back to render it operative, a relay controlled by the circuit of the light and having its switch held open when its control circuit is energized, a switch in series with said relay switch to form a circuit controlling the shut off means, timed to be closed momentarily at the end of the pull back movement, whereby if the light circuit is not energized, the shut of! means stop the machine.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means therefor, shut ofi means for said machine, means for controlling the balancing of a strip of labels to be fed comprising a pull back, a photo-electric cell, means making said photoelectric cell operative during the pull back, means under control of the photo-electric cell to position the strip for further feeding, and a relay under control of said photo-electric cell having a switch which is held open when said photo-electric cell is operative, and closed when said cell is not operative, a second switch in series with said switch, and means for closing said second switch at the end of the pull back, whereby if said relay switch is closed a circuit is energized to operate said shut oil.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means therefor, shut oil means for said machine, means for controlling the balancing of a strip of labels to be fed comprising a pull back, a photo-electric cell, means making said photoelectric cell operative during the pull back, means under control of the photo-electric cell to position the strip for further feeding,- and a relay under control of said means for making said photo-electric cell operative and having a switch which is held open when said means for makin said cell operative are operating and closed when said means are not operating, a second switch in series with said switch, and means for closing said second switch at the end of the pull back, whereby if said relay switch is closed a circuit is energized to operate said shut off.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding machine, driving means therefor, shut oil means for said machine, means for controlling the balancing of the strip of labels to be fed comprising a pull back, a photo-electric cell, means under control of the photo-electric cell to position the strip for further feeding, and means designed to stop the operation of the machine if the photo-electric cell has not operated to position the label by the time the pull back has reached the end of its movement,

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a photo-electric cell adapted to be exposed to a strip of labels as it is fed through the apparatus, a bed on which the strip of labels is fed, an aperture in said bed opposite said photo-electric cell and a light bulb positioned in said aperture and having a portion projecting slightly above the surface of said bed and in the path of the label strip, whereby the label strip passing between the light and the photo-electric cell wipes the projecting portion of the light bulb to keep it clean.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a pull back for the label strip comprising a pivoted frame carrying a solenoid, a cam to rock said frame back and forth, label gripping means comprising a movable armature for said solenoid, and a stationary member between which the label strip is gripped, means for yieldingly holding said armature against said stationary member, and means for releasing said gripping means to leave said label strip in desired position while said frame continues its motion, comprising means for energizing said solenoid when the label strip has reached the desired position.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cutting and folding. machine, driving means therefor, a clutch connection between said driving means and said machine, a solenoid clutch release, a relay having a switch to control the operation of said clutch release, and a meter adapted to control said relay comprising contacts adapted to close after a predetermined number of operations of the machine.

CARL W. SHAVER. 

